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it was the same as any day for steve, beading heat. working in the shop. he never got bored of the scents, the people and voices. it's all he could do without being too sick. he's so lucky his mother knew peggy's, he's lucky this job was handed to him. he couldn't have done anything else with the condition he's in. he never let him bother him, stop him or beat him. he knew how to take care of himself. and peggy knew how too when he didn't. all steve had was the shop, his cat and peggy. it didn't bother him.
steve couldn't have ever made it in the war, he was too scrawny, ill and weak. it didn't bother him. he was scared off by rich military families, he was a peasant in their eyes. that's why he was so intimidated by james.
the store was always looking beautiful, flower baskets hung from the wall with a small library of bookshelf's at the back of the room, flower orders labelled behind the counter with the bright colours on display. bright yellow and beige walls with a pretty blue floor tiling. small coffee tables next to the entrance and a side waitress that served hot drinks. it was like steve's second home.
"we're empty today, huh precious?" peggy spoke up as she was sweeping the floor across from steve. steve looks up from the till. "mhm, feels good to not be so busy for once. it gets so hot when he place is swarming" his eyes were trailing the floor as he spoke. suddenly, the bell on the door frame rang as somebody walked in and a strong cologne scent hit the store. "james! it's lovely to see you again, you seem to be here more now you're off duty" peggy's voice was high and enthusiastic, fixing the collar on james' shirt as she spoke. steve scoffed. ignoring the two and picking up a broom to sweep behind the till.
"ah, peggy. you are looking dashing today, my sweet. now you don't say you have anymore sunflowers?" his white teeth gleam through his lips after he asks her. why does he need more? there was a fresh batch in his order yesterday? "oh of course we do, we don't ever run out of flowers, james. i could give you all the sunflowers in the world if you needed me too, or steve could. since he's the one you have to buy them from." peggy motioned her hands towards steve and james grabbed his attention. "this little runt? he's the one everybody talks about huh? it's as if he's hand-crafting the flowers by himself hm? he does a pretty darn good job at it too." james smiles at steve, running his large hand across the front desk steve was opposite to. he threw a weak smile back at him. "another order of sunflowers for mr. barnes, please steve" peggy calls from the other end of the room, rearranging a book shelf. "call me bucky, i insist" james yelled back at peggy.
steve walks through the shop closet door to pick up a spare sunflower batch for bucky. "didn't you buy some yesterday? we sometimes charge extra for double orders, mr barnes" steve questioned him, wondering why he needed anymore.
"listen here, doll. i'll pay whatever you need me too. i got a sick grandma and this is her favourite flower. she just forgets that i buy them for her everyday, so that's why i insist. she can't help it. i'll buy her these flowers until the day she dies. so if you wanted a reason, you now have it" buckys voice croaked with a sadness. steve felt sorry for him. "my apologies, james. we have offers on get well soon cards that can come with your package?" steves voice was shaky, afraid he had upset him. "go on, throw one in. she'll enjoy the sentiment" bucky smiled at the gesture and handed steve the $25 dollars.
"thank you again, i might be back tomorrow. i used to buy them from the shop across town but they didn't have steve rogers now, did they?" he winked at steve as he chuckled. "oh james, outta here you flirt! we'll have your order ready for you tomorrow" peggy places a red lipstick mark on his cheek before he walks out the door. "keep them pretty for me, rogers" he splutters before leaving.
"you hear that? i think a barnes boy likes you, stevie." peggy leant over the desk and giggled at steve. "god your face is red raw! and it isn't sunburn, it's of the smitten type" peggy ruffled steves thin hair. "preposterous, peggy. he can't, he's probably doing it to mock me. his family probably think i'm a peasant, they'd shame him if they knew they bought from our shop." steve spits his words out quickly as peggy gently places her hands on steves shoulders. "relax, angel. his family know mine, they're a nice bunch. you are spoken about highly, you did make the flower decorations for his mothers wedding you know?" peggy's voice calmed steve. "i did?" steve gulped. "yes, you just didn't know it. his grandpa picked them up, it was about six months ago." steve couldn't remember, aslong as james' family liked him it gave him a wave of reassurance. he didn't know why. steve kept the word "doll" close to him for the rest of the day. hearing it come from bucky's mouth was something he never thought he'd hear. he tried to brush it off, knowing he spoke to everybody like that. he shared his charm and wit amongst everyone. he probably didn't even think twice about steve throughout his day.
steve hasn't stopped thinking about him since the first day he entered the shop to pick up sunflowers. steve wished he could stop thinking about him. he can't
his eyes, his hair. the way his lips curl at the side when he smiles. it made steve's stomach turn with a feeling he's never felt before.
